Automatic speed control system



Oct. 13, 1931. P. J. SIIMMEN AUTOMATIC SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM Filed July 20, 1917 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN Tm? Oct. 13, 1931. P. J. SIMMEN 1,827,407 IAUTO MATIC SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM I Filed July 20, 1917 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mgfig INVENTOT? RNE) 'bv the outside-influence; "20

"Pmemed D e- 13, 1931 mm 151mmomwmm awyom, nss'mnoe'r o'"S M EWAUTOMATIC. Ra n-g ,wA sreivanv coi/rrjanmor nnnn nnwvonm conronnafzonQFEAR Z NA {J I a pl ca i n'fiiea nuy'ao, 1917. "S eria 1 nof 131,918.;

' This invention relates to automatic "speed movingvehicles; r V The obje'ctofthis invention lSjtOPIOVldG control systems for controlling the": speed of- 5 'a'systeni by which the speediof aimoving vehicle may be automatically controlledso as to prevent the vehiclefrom exceeding a'fspeed Which is safe for the particular condition of the track-over which the vehicle is running.

10 More specifically,this invention relates to a speed control "device in which; intermittent influences'outside the vehicle set the Vehicle speed control mechanism in various positions as "the train moves [along the track- 15 way. After the trainfhas passedvjthe inter- -mittent influence, devices on the vehicle operateto i hold the 'speed control mechanism in-the same position to which it hasfbeen-set j Other Obie-01:3 am advantages will appear as the description ofthe invention progresses, and the novel. features will be particularly pointed ut in the-a pe ded claims;

I In describing' th'el'invent ion'in detail, ref erence is'had to theaccompanying drawings, wherein I- have illustrated apreferre'd phys- *ical embodiment of my invention, and wherein like characters of "reference designate corresponding parts v throughout the several views and,infwhich-'= v o Figure lisa diagrammatic view of the vehicle carried devices'together with means for operating said-devices; Fig. 2 is a detail View showing amodificationof parts of the." device shown in Fig. i=Fig. 3 is'a diagramk m'atic view of'a trackway, having automatic n eansfor operating the vehicle carried de- Referring toFigll, 1,1 are the rails upon which a vehicle is adantedfto travel: 2, 2 are he Wheels of thevehic'le'and 3'its axle. Y :Rig

idly mounted 'onatheaxle 3 is a bevel gear' l which meshe'szwith: a' bevel gear-'5. The bevel rear 5 is rigi dlv attached. to the upright shaft which forms 'partlof a bracket 12' which is mounted at'a conve'nientplace on the vehicle.

Secured tot'heuppereend of the "shaft 19 isa centrifugal governor'18, the upper collar of said governor-" belngl rlgldly secured to ?the 19 which suitahlyfsnpported in a bearing the shaft 19, as the speedof 'the'vehiclein creas e's,---The1ovver collar ofthe governor -:18 has an annnlar flange 39, which is. adapted; when" the speed of the vehicle F is high 7 enongh,jto touch the .fldrked' inember"38-,* j which extends pa-rtially @I'Olllld. said-lower,

collar 'of'the governor18; T

The forked member es'xis ea-any. at I tached at the point 61 to a member 15; which is" rigidly attached toa plun'ger 14; The

plunger l l'issiiitably supported in a'bearing I formed in the bracket 12, and the upp er endi of'the'plnnger' 1 1 acts 'as tlie core fortheq solenoid 17. Thetensionspring 13 has one 7 end attached to the lower end of 'theplunger and theother endfixed to snitable point, n thfe'jvehicleg "ltigidly attached to ale a member 15 is a spring contaqt fl6fwhich various heights and thuscause the Contact spring; 16, to contact successively withgcontacts 4Q, 41,42, 43, 44 and 15. As the mem} her 15 is rigidly attached-to the fplnngerl ly raising the plunger 14- results 5 also; in raising 1 the forl ed ,-arm. 3 8 rwRigidly secnredto the member 15 and below the forked-arm 38 is an v arm'4i8. Mounted onandfinsnlated from the arms-38 and 48 are two pairs of-contact springs 4-6 and 47: No'rmallfv the contacts p I 46z-do not make contact;whilegthecontacts f1? do make contact; 1

49 is a contact shoe-hinnedlv monn'ted ata convenient place on the vehicle I and adapted to contact with a ramp r'ails56 rigidly securedto the ties adjacent to thetrack rails. When the shoe 4 9 is'ein contact with such ramp rail '56, the shoe 491breaks-contact withitsicontact- {point 57, butwhenthe vehicle-has inoved so 5 that tl1e'slioe "l9 is no longerincontact withia maniprail 56,- theshoe4c9 is restored to con shaitilQQ-and the lowei 'collartof the. said 1 governor being adapted to move npWardon-fl f f train pipe to the atmosphere and causing an application of the brakes. hell or warning signal.

Extending downward from the member 12 and insulated therefrom is an arm 59 to which is pivotally attached an arm 9. Pivotally mounted on the'arm 9 is a sector 8 whose lower end has a series of gear teeth 7 which are adapted under certain circumstances to mesh with a bevel gear 6 which is rigidly mounted on the shaft 19 adjacent to the bevel gear 5. The upper part of the sector 18 forms a surface which is adapted to he touched by a contact spring 11. The contact spring 11 is mounted on and insulated from a post 10 28 is an electric extending upwardly from the arm 9. The

right hand end. of the arm 9 acts as an armature for the electromagnet 27. which. when energized, holds the arm 9 in its upper position so that the teeth 7 are out of mesh with the bevel gear 6. However, when the electromagnet 27-is de-enerrized the arm 9 drops to its lower position and the teeth 7 then mesh with the bevel gear 6.

. 26 is a battery or other source of energy carried on the vehicle. 7 50, 51, 52. 53, 54: and 55 are'resistances of different value, which are connected to the contact points 10, il. 42,

43.44 and 45 respectively. The parts described are suitably connected by electrical wires or conductors which. will he more fully described in the description of operation hereinafter contained.

Located at a convenient place near the trackway are a series of batteries 20, 21, 22, 23. 24 and 25. The battery 20 has one terminal connected by the wire 69 to the track rail. 1. The other terminal of the battery 20 is connected to the opposite terminal of the battery 21. and a wire 70 connects the connecting point of these two batteries with a contact point 30. --The other terminal of the battery 21 is connected to the opposite terminal of the battery 22, and the wire 71 connectsthe connecting point of these two batteries with the contact point 31. Similarly all of these batteries 20. 21. 22. 23, 24 and 25 are connected in series and from the connecting point between each two batteries a wire runs-to a contact point. The arm 58*is adapted to he moved to touch any of the contact points 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, and thearm 58 is connected by a wire 68 to the ramp rail 56. It will be seen by an inspection of this circuit that when the arm 58 is in contact with the contact point 36, there will be no difference of poten tial between the ramp 56 and the rail 1. When the arm 58 is in contact with the contact point 30 there will be a diiference of potential between the ramp 56 and the rail 1, equal to the voltage of the battery 20. When the arm 58 is in contact'with the contact point 31, the said difference of potential will be equal to the combined voltage of the batteries 20' and 21. When the arm 58 is in contact with the contact point 32, the said difi'erence of potential will be equal to the combined voltage of the batteries20, 21'and ,22. When'the arm 58. is in contact with the contact point 33, the said difference of potential will be equal to the combined voltage of the batteries 20.; 21, 22and 23. When thearm 58'is in contact with the contact point 34:, the said difi erence of-potential will be equal to the combined voltage of the batteries 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24, and when the arm 58 is in contact with the contact point 35, the.

of potential between the ramp 56 and the rail 1 corresponding to the combined voltage of the batteries 20, 21, 22, 23,2 1, and 25.

This will'cause current to flow from the batteries through the shoe 49, wire 76, solenoid 17 wire 87 the wheels 2, rail 1 and back to the batteries. The solenoid 17 will therefore be energized by the maximumvoltage, and

the plunger 14 willbe drawn to its highest position so that contact spring 16 will touch the contact point 45. Then the vehicle moves forward so that the shoe 49 no longer touches the ramp 56, the shoe will'be'restored to contact with its contact p'oint57 and the solenoid 17 will remain energized through the following circuit: From the positive side of the batteryp26 to the wire77, contact 57, shoe 49, wire 76, solenoid 17 wire 86, member 15, contact spring 16, contact point 45, a

resistance 55, wire 79 to the negative side of the battery 26. The resistance is so proportioned that when the last described circuit is closed, substantially the same amount of current flows through the solenoid 17 as flowed through itwhen the shoe 49 was standing on the ramp 56 and the outside circuit wasclosed. The plunger 14: is therefore held in the same position towhich it was set when the shoe was in contact with the ramp.

Assuming now that the arm 58 is in contact with the contact point 34 and that the shoe 49 is in contact with the ramp 56, the diflerence of potential-between the ramp 56 and rail 1 will now be less than it was before. In

WraSiWi11b equ was combined voltage of the batteries 205 21, 22', 23 and 24.

Through the same 'circuitQvvhich was hereto; fore described, the solenoid 17 will; be "eneiz gized,"'but the current flow through'the solenoid'will'be only suflicient to raise iits plunger 14 so that'the "contact spring 16*is: in contact with the contact point '44. When the vehicle has movedsof that its shoe 49is'1 no longer in contact withthe jr'a1np 56, the shoe '49 will again make contact with'its contact point 57, the solenoid; 17 will remainfeneif I gizecl' through the following ci rcuit: From the positive :side of the -batteryy26 ;-to' the wire 7 7, contact 57-; shoe 49,; Wire 76, solenoid 17, Wire-'86, member115, contact spring'16, I contact point 44', resistance 54; wire 79 to the negative side-of thebattery 26. It will be noted'that'this holding "circuit difiers from, the one heretofore described only in theosub stitution of the,resistance-'54}.for the resistr ance 55. The resistance 54is sopropo'rtioned thatthe current flow through thes'olenoid.

17 due to the holding 'eircuit is substantially the same as the current "flow-whentlie shoe 49 was-in contact with theram'pi'56', and-thewill be energized by a" still lower voltage na1nely'the' combined voltage of thefbat- 43. 7 When the vehicle moves so that "the shoe teries 20, 21, 22 and-'23,-and' the plunger 14 will be moved to such ariositiori thatco'nta'c't spring 16 will contact with the contact point 49 is no longer in contactwith theframp-56,

the holding circuit for the-solenoid lT'Will then be closed through; the "resistance 53, which 'will'allo'w a current flow sutfi'cient to maintain the plunger 14 the s'am'e position to Whlch lt-was Se? h f 9 gshqgriwas 9 39fand any movementofthe vehicle will :re-

theramp. e

- When the arm '58 is in contact with the contact point ea and the qsho e" isfon=the ramp, the plunger 14 will be mo eaa such apo si} tion that the contact spring 16 willfeontac't with the'contact point 42'. Whefi' he vehicle moves so that the" shoe hasleft thefrainp; holding eircuitlwill thenbe'clos'ed through the resistance 52 andthe plunger'willi'emainin the same position to 1 which it was v ,set when the shoewas-i'n' contactwith the ramp; 1

l/Vhenvthe arm 58 is in,conta'ctwith the: con -t tact point 31, and'the shoe is ont-he ramp, the plunger 14 will be. moved to such'a position that the contact spring16 willtouch the contact point 41. When the vehicle has moved tosuch a position that the shoe is'sno longer contacting withthe ramp a holding circuit will be closed which includesthe resistance 51 and the plunger 14 will be maintained,

,lowestiposition'; 1 The electromagnet 29' which governs the the same position to which itiw'asset when the shoe vwas in contact with'the rampp 13.; Q

- When the arm 58 is in contact with thecontact with th el contact point 30 -and the shoeis in contact withtheramp, the plunger14 will be moved in such-a position. that the contact spring16 touches the contact point 40. -When the" vehicle has moved so. that the shoe no;

lo'ngerftouches the ramp a holding circuit will be closed which includes the: resistancew50, and the plunger '14-Will be maintainedin the r same positionv to which'it was set when the shoe was contacting with the ramp! l When'thearrn' 58 istouching thecontact 'giifi f" :5 r and the shoe is, in contact with the ramp, no

current will fiow 'through the solenoid: 17 and In this position the contact spring l6v fdoes the plunger- 14 will'drop to its lowestposition.

ramp, no holdingcircuit willbecloseda-nd 4 the plunger 14*will thereforeremaini in its air valve; 37' is normally energized, through the following circuit :1 From theposit-ive side of the battery 26 to the wires 7 7, -7 8 and 85,*sec tor 8, contact springrll, wire 8.4, coil 1 29 ,wire 7 9 to the-negative side; ofihe battery 26.1 i The electromagnet 27 t is normally energized throughthe,followingcircuiti-"aFrom positiveside ofthe batteryfl 26 to theiwires ,=77 and 78;contacts 47,w-ire,82,:magnet 127', i

wires81 and 9to the negativeside of the batter- 26." 5 1 r It wi-llabe; notedthat when the plunger 14 moves to itsfvarious-positions the forked arm 1 38 is also correspondingly-moved. The an- I nul ar ring39 which forms/the lower part of I the;governorcollar is mov'edflup anddown' as thespeedofsthe vehicle increases 'andt d'ejvcreases. NVhen'the plunger 14 is in its low- ;estposition, the arm 381s touching. the collar sult in revolvingithe arm 38' about itspivot 61.1 When thefplunger 14 is inin such a po- .sitionfthat thecontact spring 16 is touching the contact pointi40, the arm 38 will be some- Whatfhigherand will permit a-limited speed ofthe vehiclerbefore the.arm 38 is rotated iIhereflect of'rotating the about its pivotr6l -is asyfollowsz First, the contacts 46 'toucl1 and"the Warning signal circuit is'closed tery 26 to the wires 77 and-78, -contacts46 'te'the negative side of the battery 26.. A fur- "ther movefnentof the arm 38 causes the conwire 83, Warning signal 28, wires 80 and 79 as follows: From the positive sideofthe bat- Y I tacts 47 tobreak contact and this opens the normally closed circuit-for the electromagnet 27. When the electromagnet 27 is de-ener- I gized the arm 9drops asheretofore described and the teeth7 mesh with the gear6. After the vehicle has moved a predetermined distance with the teeth 7 in mesh with the gear 6, the sector 8 is moved so that it no longer makes contact with the contact spring 11. This opens the normally closed circuit for the electromagnet 29 and an automatic-application. of the brakes take place.

It will be noted thatthe arm 38 constitutes a permissible speed device which may be set in a pluralityofdifierent permissible speed positions by intermittent devices along the trackway and maintained by devices on the vehicle in the position in which it has been set by the devices outside the vehicle. When the vehicle exceeds the permissible speed for which the arm 38 is set, a warning signal is sounded and the engineeer should apply his brakes. If, however, he fails to do so, the distance device 8 is actuated shortlyafter the warning signal begins to sound and after the train has travelled a predetermined distance the brakes are automatically applied. V In Fig. 2 there is shown'a modification of the means of maintaining the plunger 14 in the position to which itis set by the outside devices. The member is provided with a projecting dog67, which is adapted to be enga'ged by one of a series of teeth on a mem ber 64. The member 64 is pivotally mounted at 65 and its upper end constitutes the armature of an electromagnet 62. When the electromagnet 62 is energized the member 64 is moved so that one of its teeth is in engagement with the dog '67, and when the electromagnet 62 is de energized, the member 641s drawn by a tension spring 66 attached to its lower end into such a position that its upper end is resting against the'stop 63 and its teeth no longer engage the dog 67. The electromagnet 62 is energized, whenever the shoe 49 is not resting on a ramp, through the following circuit: From the positive side of the battery 26, to the wire 77, contact 57, shoe 49, wires 76 and 88, electromagnet 62, wire 7 9 to the negative side of the battery'26. When the shoe 49 is standing on a ramp this circult is broken at the contact 57.

It will be observed that the operation of this device is as follows: When the shoe 49 is standing on a ramp, the electromagnet 62 is de-energized and the member 64 is drawn to such a. position that the plunger 14 is free to be moved to any position. Upon leaving the ramp the circuit of the electromagnet 62 is closed and the member 64 holds the plunger 14 in whatever position it has been placed by the outside devices.

In Fig. 3 there are shown means for automatically actuating the speed control device of Fig. 1 so as to provide a varying zone of influence behind a train 5 moving along a trackway, so. that a following train will be forced to gradually reduce its speedas it approaches the first mentioned train. 106

and 107- are the rails .of the track, the rail 107 by the wire 116 to the continuous track rail 107. The other terminal of the battery 120 is connected to the opposite terminal of the battery 121, and connected to the connecting point of these two batteries is the wire 110, whose other end is connected to the line wire 100. The other batteries 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 are similarly connected so that the result is as follows: The difference of potential between line wire lOOand the track rail 107 is equal to the voltagejof the battery 120; the difference of potential between the line wire 101 and the track rail 107 is equal to the combined voltage of the batteries 120 and 121; the difference of potential between the line wire 102 and the track rail 107 is equal to the combined voltage of the batteries 120, 121 and 122; the difference of potential between the line wire- 103 and the track rail 107 is equal to the combined voltage of the bat teries 120, 121, 122 and 123, etc. 1

Each of the blocks has a track battery at one end connected across the track rails and at theother end a track relay. As all of the blocks are identical, I will merely describe thedevices connected with the block H. The track relay for this block is 106k. This relay has five neutral armatures 13072, 13172 1327b, 133k and 1347. Each of these armatures has a front contact adapted to be touched by the armature when the relay is energized, and a back contact adapted to be touchedby the armature when the relay is de-energized. The armature 130k is connected by a wire 13572. with a ramp or signal rail 56h located adjacent to the entrance to the block H. The front contact of the armature 130k is connected by a wire 136k to the armature 1312'. The back contact of the armature 1307a is connected by a wire 137k with the line wire 100. The front contact of the armature 131k is connected by a wire 13% with the armature 1322'. The back contact of the armature 131h is connected by a wire 14071. with the line wire 101. The front contact of the armature 132k is connected by a wire 141k with the armature 1332'. The back contact of the armature 1327b is connected by a wire 142k with the line wire 102. The front contact of the armature 133h is connected by a wire 143k with the armature 134i.

The back contact of the arma- 1, 6 w chc hn ire 19 I i0 w r 11 5b;v axmaw eg ii h, frpnt; ta wire 136k, armature 131i, back:COJ; t%Qfi, Wire 14 t th il 'ne W re 101a esi'snd r -:55!)

v traln remalns 1n the block I, a secondgtraln ".speed'deviceon itheqiehicle,an yarningsig I nal a dlstance element, lnterm ttentxmeans v I I 171119133211 is co heil ne Wir Y the; armature .1347: is connected I a m l ibl i k @Assuming ithatf a 1;

- s sbmiect di o, thev wi us l Wires: a follows 'ifl'rl le signal; 'rail ,562' will "(connected to the line Wireas follows lfnoln' the l signal rail 562' to the ire 1355, armatnre j as follows From the signal fail: 56h to vthe will: onnec d?Watt -"l neWire 5 1 f F o i hessigna mil .W-fiet W re .359 armat lz wwi fm n st-Wi 69., a m ure 13.11 v o ont t. w r 3 1,, armature 1322', back contact,i wire 14 2? to the armature; 180i, front contaetfwi're5136f,

' arm t l ic fiyy; r nt t-wt W-ir 3 9'5 armature 132/,gfrontyontaot wire 141/1,

connected to the line ine 104138 r-c follqws i From the 3 signab rail; 5,66 to the Wire-135e,, armature 1130a,; frontpoontact, Wire 136e,

v v thesignalrail5fiai-to the Wire 135d, armatnpe 180d, ,frontj contact, wire 136d anmatn 'ef 1316, front contact,wire 1 1,89 armatnre 1-327 front contact, Wire-141. 4, tarmatnl e l 3 3 g, front 1c0ntact,;Wire 143g, armatnreql34 lt,

, front contact, wire 145M130 the lineiwire 105,

Similarly. the signal; rails; 56c and 56b, vbe connected itoijthe line:wi1 'e,l05-...- It Will bel obvious that,- if ,thegassuxn d appnoac'hingt the said :first -*mentionejd train willat the entranceto blocks-13,0, and D have its permissible speed device: 38; set in? the maximum position, As theti ain progresses ztlongthe trackwa'y and; passes ,QVGI'ZflIQ various' signal Tails 56a, 56 56g, 56h. and; 56?;

one, the permissible speed "devicek :38? will Tat 'i ll i i {force the; train to makei'succes'si-ve the arious-signalrails-behind this trainwili itjinders toojdf, that the form selected.

1s ..1ne1'"ely illustrative ,ibntndoes' not exhaust} 56h will, beoonnecte d to" the line. Wire 101 'nn eans along, the traokwa permissible, speedQdeiiice ,miiap1um11ty of 1 diagram 'penmissible'jspeed' positi'onsLmeansfl inbli i gell o ica d jcs nth Vehicle 0 1 line W re; 102.; The ig arail 6fij labe. winch it-hasbeen set" connected to the; line Wire, lQii as'folloyys y i V v -Fromf the;signal,rail,5 6f to the WlIQ 13. 7,

armature x131 front contact 1! wire adapted-topontact iththelsignal; rail,,1neans and near o the precedingltrain. The Speed 1 atgwhichflthe seoond trai'n vWill be allowed to.

ofimyinvention and; explained the operation, i

and, principleqtheieo'f, nevertheless, L desire;

the 7' possi lole physical iembodi li ts of the idea of meansunderlying nyinventiom] What ,Ifclaim as'new? and desire toi-secure v by Letters =1 'ate1it oi the, United States, is i, so

Inga ,speed-5control system for railway Vehicles, attack," a fjehicle -,.thereon, a p r. 7 nisslble speedidevioeonthe ehicle, anactual speed. device n. ,theivehig1 e,' intermittent."

ioir' se'tting said 35F n amtaining 1d dei e inf'the positiollin trackway aftefn 1 the, veh cle has a passed said hi cleflek'ceedsl the-permissible: speed at which theipe fii issiloleflspeed?device:isset ;v I" "2,, In speed: control sys'teni, for railway liiclfii 7 attack, a si gle'mu located adjacent l along the .tjraclg, a P6I:mlS$lbl8 speed "d "efvice on the Vehicle, a contact shoe Ion thevehicilef 011.en'ergizing.zthef signal. Itall with iclliriielit ofidifietentf goltages,1means for movinglthef permissible speed 'nldevi'ce to a plurality 10i ,dilferentaposfitions While" the shoeis inlfconfff ltaoti with tl e signal rail, the position of'the "1 pe mis bls' l 1 d ei nd ng p th voltage supplied to the signal rail, '{andmeans-for maintaining the permissible speed .devicei'n theposition in which ithas been-set when the shoe as in: contact With the signal rail, 'aftersaid shoe leaves the signal rail, 3'. "I n a speed control system for railway 'e 1e m. k a v i e thereon, a; Pe missible speeddev'ice onthevvehicle, an actual along.- the traokway for gsetting ,Lsaid f perniis ,si'ble speed, device :in a pluralityof diflerent,

:hi'cle for; maintaining said device iii-the povwould. liininatej thefpossibilitylo'f 5a; COIllSIOIL WltIll thetrain inadvan'ce fthenieans along th I l i k. I .uperlnissibl'e speed positions lileans on the eiaera ing b ejwarn gnal and t i' fing fi v cordance with the distance travelled by the vehicle,means for retarding the vehicle, and means for actuating the retarding means aft-er thevehicle has travelled a predetermined distance beyond the point at which the distance element was actuated. I

4. Ina speed control system for railway vehicles, a track, a vehicle thereon, a permissible speed device on the vehicle, an electromagnet adapted to move the permissible speed device to variouspermissible speed positions, corresponding'to different voltages applied to the electromagnet, means for intermittently connecting the electromagnet with circuits partially outside'the vehicle, said circuits being supplied with different voltages, a holdingcircuit on the vehicle including a source of energy and said electromagnet, said :holding circuit being closed when the electromagnet is not connected with an outside circuit, and means for varying the voltage'appliedto the electromagnet through the holding circuit, said means being so arranged that the volta ge applied to the electromagnetthrough the holding circuit at any given time will be substantially equal to the voltageapplied to the electromagnet when 7 last connectedto an outside circuit.

5. In a speed control system forrailway vehicles, a track, a vehicle thereon, a permissible; speed device on the vehicle, an electromagnet adapted to move the permissible speed device to various permissible speed positions, corresponding to diifere'nt voltages a lied to the electromagnet, means forcintermittently connecting the velectromagnet with'circuits' partially outside the vehicle, said circuits being supplied with different voltages, and means on thevehicle, including 40 an electro-mechanical lock, for holding the permissible speed means in" the position in which it was set when its operating electromagnet was last connected to an outside circuit. T

6. Ina speed control system for railway vehicles, a track, a vehicle thereon, a permissible speed device on the vehicle, an actual speed deviceon the vehicle, a warning signal, a distance element, means forsetting said permissible speed device in a plurality of 'permissible speed positions, means for succes- I sively operating the warning signal and acvehicles, a trackway divided into blocks, a

signal rail at the'entrance to each block,

rams;

means responsive tothe presence of a vehicle in any block for energizing thesignal rails in the rear thereof with energy of difierent voltages, the voltage applied to a givenrail being. proportional to its distance from the n vehicle, and a permissible speed device on a following vehicle adapted to be set to and maintained at a permissible speed position corresponding to the voltage of the signal rail at the entrance to the block said vehicle is occupying. 7

' 8. In a speed control system for railway vehicles, a trackway divided into blocks, a signal rail at the entrance to each block, meansresponsive to the-presence of a vehicle in-any block for energizing the signal rails in the rear thereof with energy of different voltages, the voltage applied to a given signal rail bein proportional to its distance from the vehic e, a permissible speed device on a following vehicle adapted to be set to different permissible speed positions as the vehicle passes the signal rails, the 7 position to which said device is set corresponding to the voltage applied to the signal rail, and means on the vehicle for maintaining the permissible speed device in the same position to which it was set by the'last signal rail passed by the vehicle, after the vehicle has passed said signal rail. 7 i 9. In a speed control system for railway vehicles; in combination; a trackway; a vehicle thereon; means on the vehicle moved in correspondence with the actual speed; means along the trackway; means on the vehicle nioved'by the last mentioned means in correspondence with permissible speed;

means on the vehicle controlling the speed thereof; means for governing said last mentioned means and means controlled by'the cooperation of the actual'speed means and the permissible speed means for setting said last mentioned means in operation, said last mentioned means thus set inoperation 1 including adevice responsive to the-movement 'of the vehicle for determiningthedistance of travel ofthe vehicle before a control of the speed thereofwill be eiiectuated after the actual speed means and'the permissible speed means have cooperated to efiect their function. r

10. In a speed control system for railway vehicles,in combination; a trackway; a vehicle thereon; means on the vehicle moved in correspondence with the actual speed;

means along the trackway; means on the vehicle moved by the last mentioned means in correspondence with permissible speed;

naeans on'the vehicle controlling the speed thereof; means for governing said last men-- tioned means; means controlled by the cooperation of'the actual speed-"means and '-the permissible speed means for setting said last mentioned means in operation, said; last -mentioned means thus set in 0perationin-:

eluding a device responsive to the movement i of the vehicle for determiningthe distance I w theirfunctionf l 11. In a speed control system for railway vehicles, in combination a trackway; a vehicle thereon; a permissible speed device on." the vehicle; an actual speed device on'the vehicle; means along the tr'ackway for set:

tingusaid'permissible speed device'in a pln-f rality of difierent permissible speed posi-- tions; means on the vehicle for maintaining said device in the position in Which it has g been set by the means along the. trackvvay after the vehicle has passed said imeans;

means for retarding the vehicle, and means moved by the movement ofthe vehicle for actuating the retarding meanswhen the ac- 5 tual speed :of the 1 vehicle exceeds'the permissibl'e speed atwhich the permissible speed device is set.v

12. In a speed control system for railway 1 vehicles, incombinationz a trackway; means .30 dividing the trackway into track circuited i i upon each signal rail when the'trackwa'y is sections each including a relay; signalrails J disposedat intervals along the trackwayro means controlled by therelaysfor impress-j ing current of correspondingcharacteristic free of vehicles or in normal'conditionand} means for impressing currents of a vary-V Qing characteristic'upon the signal rails'in proportion to their distance from the' rear.

U 7 0 of avehicle when avehicleis on the track- \vayor an abnormality occurs in any section.

j PAUL J SIMMEN. 

